Sabbath 10/1/35/120

Dear Friends

This 10th day of Abib is the day that the Christ was set aside as the Lamb for the Passover sacrifice.

In the paper Timing of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection (No. 159) we can see the sequence in the Gospels and how they interrelate. The sequence shows how it is impossible for the Crucifixion to be on a Friday in any year that Christ could have been crucified.

From that paper we will take the details of how the entry of Messiah to Jerusalem occurred on this day and exactly what occurred on the sequence of days according to the gospels.

Coordinators should take their brethren through this paper so they understand the sequence from the Sanctification through to the Passover.

We can now deal with the events of the six days before the Passover, from 9 Nisan.

The Sixth Day before the Passover 9 Nisan: (EENT) Thursday to (EENT) Friday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Christ approaches Jerusalem from Jericho.

 

 

19:1-10

 

Christ passes Thursday night at the house of Zacchaeus

 

 

19:6

 

and delivers the parable of the pounds.

 

 

19:11-27

 

He proceeds towards Jerusalem.

 

 

19:28

 

He sends two disciples for an “ass” and a “colt”. Note that there are two animals.

 

21:1-7

 

 

 

He makes his first entry from Bethphage (not Bethany)
and fulfils Zech. 9:9.

21: 8-9

 

 

 

He is unexpected, and they ask “Who is this?”

21:10-11

 

 

 

He cleanses the Temple in accordance with the Law.

21:12-16

 

 

 

He departed to Bethany to the house of Lazarus.

21:17

 

 

12:1

We see that the purpose of the first journey to Jerusalem was to cleanse the Temple, which had to be done for the Passover ceremony where Christ was to be the Passover Lamb. He fulfilled that which was written of him by the prophet Zechariah (Zech. 9:9) and Matthew records that on this occasion the people also spread their garments before him (Mat. 21:1-17). The Chief Priests were then aware they had to do something about him (Mat. 21:15). He then departed for Bethany to the House of Lazarus where Mary anointed his feet with the pound of spikenard. Judas Iscariot challenged this anointing and Christ specifically reveals that it was for the purpose of his death and burial that the ointment had been kept and it was being used for that specific purpose. This anointing denoted the sacrifice of Christ as the Lamb of God. It effectively set him aside for that purpose. These activities took place on the evening of the tenth of Nisan which is the setting aside of the lamb for the Passover sacrifice in accordance with Exodus 12:3. This occurred on Friday (EENT) to Saturday (EENT). Christ dedicated himself and was anointed on this Sabbath.

The Fifth Day before the Passover 10 Nisan: (EENT) Friday to (EENT) Saturday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

The Lord passed the Sabbath at Bethany.

 

 

 

 

From dark (EENT) on Sabbath (Saturday) the first of three suppers are held (probably at Lazarus’ house).

 

 

 

 

12:2

At this supper the first of two anointings takes place.

 

 

 

12:3-11

Lazarus is recorded as sitting with him at supper (Jn. 12:2). John tells us that many of the Jews knew he was there and they came to see him on that Sabbath and also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead (Jn. 12:9). It was because of this that the Chief Priests (including High Priests of divisions) consulted that they might also put Lazarus to death because many believed in Christ because of Lazarus (Jn. 12:10-11). The word used is apokteino (to kill) which implies violent death rather than death by judicial process.

The text in John continues on in 12:12 to say: “The next day many people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet him and fulfilled that which was written by the Psalm 118:25-26 and cried Hosanna! ‘Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord’”. Luke 19:38 is different in cry but the intent is the same and the text in John leaves out the Son of David that is present in Matthew 21:9.

The error made is that it is assumed that the term on the next day refers to the Sabbath on the morrow after the evening meal rather than the Eleventh Day of Abib. However, the term does refer to the following day rather than the morning or morrow of the Sabbath. Bullinger also holds that the term referred to the Eleventh of Abib, which was the Sunday. This view is also backed up by the fact that many people had come on the Sabbath to see Christ and they could hardly have met in the house at night. Also, the consultation of the High Priests would have taken place on that Sabbath. Thus Christ was set aside as the sacrifice by the anointing and by the consultation of the Chief or High Priests on the Sabbath, the Tenth Day of Abib, they being there in one place because of the Feast. Christ then was ready to enter Jerusalem in triumph.

The Fourth Day before the Passover 11 Nisan: (EENT) Saturday to (EENT) Sunday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

The second or triumphal entry to Jerusalem occurs.

 

 

 

 

Christ sends two disciples for one animal, an unbroken colt.

 

11:1-7

19:29-35

12:12

The Lord then starts from Bethany (not Bethphage) and is met by multitudes from Jerusalem.

 

 

11:8-10

 

19:36-40

 

12:12-19

He weeps over the city.

 

 

19:41-44

 

He enters the Temple and looks around.

 

11:11

 

 

He then returns to Bethany.

 

11:11

 

 

The Third Day before the Passover 12 Nisan: (EENT) Sunday to (EENT) Monday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Christ returns to Jerusalem in the morning.

21:18

11:12

 

 

The fig tree is cursed.

21:19-22

11:13-14

 

 

He reappears at the Temple and re-cleanses.

 

11:15-17

19:45-46

 

Teaches in the Temple.

 

 

19:47

12:20-50

He faces the opposition of the rulers.

 

11:18

19:47-48

 

He leaves the city (probably for Bethany; see Lk. 21:37-38).

 

11:19

 

 

The Second Day before the Passover 13 Nisan: (EENT) Monday to (EENT) Tuesday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

The question of the disciples about the fig tree arises on the way to Jerusalem.

 

 

11:20-26

 

 

Christ is again in Jerusalem and the Temple.

21:23-27

11:27-33

20:1-8

 

Christ teaches in questions and parables.

21:28-23:39

12:1-44

20:9-21:4

 

The first great prophecy in the Temple is given.

 

 

21:5-36

 

Statement re the Lord’s custom in this last week.

 

 

21:37-38

 

The second great prophecy on the Mount of Olives.

24:1-51

13:1-37

 

 

The second prophecy continued.

25:1-46

 

 

 


This point appears to carry on in the dialogue but is probably a regression back to the events of the previous evening where the activities in the house of Simon, the leper, occurred. The statement after two days is the Passover is the time indicator. This story takes up concurrent activities, which were set in motion for the activities at the house of Simon. Judas Iscariot went to betray Christ over the activities of this day. The other disciples were sent in the afternoon to arrange the temporary accommodation. If the story is actually continuous, then the meal at Simon’s house could only have been the midday meal and the activities flowed from that event. The tight time frame and comment indicates that the story may have regressed to the previous evening.

The narrative in Mark appears to continue the action in a list of activities of the same day. It appears that multiple activities were undertaken for the preparation day and, at the very latest, the meal in Simon’s house had to be the midday meal on 13 Nisan. The Appendix in the Companion Bible regarding the Three Suppers (Appendix 157, p. 182) is thus dependent on the regression to the previous evening or be confined to three meals, being two evening meals and one midday meal. In any event, the disciples and Christ had taken up their accommodation by the evening of the fourteenth of Nisan for the last supper.



Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

The statement “after two days is the Passover”.

26:1-5

14:1-2

 

 

He returns to Bethany and is present in the house of Simon the leper. The second anointing takes place.

 

26:6-13

 

14:3-9

 

 

Judas Iscariot plots to betray Christ.

26:14-16

14:10-11

22:1-6

 

The preparation for the last supper.

26:17-19

14:12-16

22:7-13

 

The disciples here prepare to take the Lord’s Supper in temporary accommodation.

Deuteronomy 16:5-7 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. (KJV)

This then brings us to the close of the thirteenth of Nisan.

The Day before the Passover

The preparation day of the fourteenth of Nisan. The day of the crucifixion
14 Nisan: (EENT) Tuesday to (EENT) Wednesday

Event

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

“The even was come” to execute the plot against Christ.

26:20

14:17

 

 

The Last Supper commenced with the washing of feet.

 

 

 

13:1-20

The announcement of the betrayal.

26:21-25

14:18-21

 

13:21-30

The supper is eaten and the New Covenant of Jer. 31:31 is announced. The bread and wine is instituted.

 

26:26-29

 

14:22-25

 

22:14-23

 

The first prophecy of Peter’s denials is made.

 

 

 

13:31-38

The quarrel as to who would be greatest.

 

 

22:24-30

 

The second prophecy of Peter’s denials.

 

 

22:31-34

 

The final appeal is made to his first commission (Lk. 9:3).

 

 

22:35-38

 

The last address to the eleven is followed by Christ’s prayer.

 

 

 

14:1-17:26

The party goes to Gethsemane.

26:30-35

14:26-29

22:39

18:1

The third prophecy of Peter’s denials.

 

14:30-31

 

 

The agony in the garden.

26:36-46

14:32-42

22:40-46

 

The apprehension of the Lord.

26:47-56

14:43-50

22:47-54

18:2-11

The escape of Lazarus (see fn. Mk. 14:51-52, Comp. Bible).

 

14:51-52

 

 

The trials of Christ continued throughout Tuesday night.

26:57-27:31

14:53-15:19

22:54-23:25

18:12-19:13

At our Tuesday midnight, the sixth hour, Pilate said “Behold your king”.

 

 

 

 

19:14-15

Christ is led away to be crucified.

27:31-34

15:20-23

23:26-31

19:16-17

With him were led two criminals (kakourgoi).

 

 

23:32-33

19:18

The discussion with Pilate occurs re the inscription.

 

 

 

19:19-22

The dividing of the garments occurs.

27:35-37

15:24

23:34

19:23-24

He was crucified at the third hour (9 am our Wednesday).

 

15:25-26

 

 

Then two robbers were crucified with him.

27:38

15:27-28

 

 

The reviling of the rulers, both robbers and one malefactor.

27:39:44

15:29-32

23:35-43

 

The Lord delivers his mother to John.

 

 

 

19:25-27

Darkness envelops the land at the sixth hour (noon).

27:45-49

15:33

23:44-45

 

Christ gives his last cry at Wednesday 3 pm and dies.

27:50

15:34-37

23:46

19:28-30

Later activities and events.

27:51-56

15:38-41

23:47-49

19:31-37

Christ was buried in haste before dark on Wednesday at about 6 p.m. before the First Holy Day began at dark (EENT).

 

27:57-66

 

15:42-47

 

23:50-56

 

19:38-42

(See also Schaff-Herzog, Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, art. ‘Fasting’ for a Wednesday Crucifixion).

Christ is then in the tomb for three days and three nights to fulfil the sign of Jonah (Mat. 12:39-41).

  1. The first day was the High Day (Yom Tov) the fifteenth day of Nisan, from dark to dark (EENT).
  2. The second day was from dark (EENT) Thursday to dark (EENT) Friday, which was not a Holy Day and so Mary and the others could get spices to embalm Christ (Mk. 16:1). They then went to the tomb before dawn on the Sunday to embalm him (Mk. 16:2).
  3. The third day was from dark (EENT) Friday to dark (EENT) Saturday, which was the weekly Sabbath.

The paper then goes on to deal with the events of the three days and three nights in the tomb and to the Resurrection and the Wave Sheaf.  It emphasises what Christ was doing for the Cleansing of the Temple and that the entire period from 1 Abib to 14 Abib was all part of the Cleansing of the Temple as part of the Sanctification process.

Note that this year follows this sequence and Christ was crucified on the stake or stauros on the Wednesday. This day, 10 Abib, was when he was set aside as the Lamb of God and entered Jerusalem for the cleansing process. Make sure you all do the same in the cleansing of the Temple.

Please study this deeply and pray for one another in this process.

Wade Cox
Coordinator General


 Hear O Israel Yahovah our God, Yahovah is one. Eloah is Allah', Allah' is Eloah. We will all be Elohim.
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